How do I start the expungement process on my own? What will an expungement do in California? Should I get one?

No need to do anything since your case was dismissed. The court case may show up but the disposition will show a dismissal. The arrest will also...

How do I get through this with the least damage to me and my wallet. what should I do?

DUI's are costly no matter how you handle it. You can either hire a private lawyer to try and beat the case for you (no guarantees that will...

If you are on informal probation, search and seizer, to what extent do the probation have to search your person, place, ?

They are free to search you anytime anyplace. Usually people on informal probabtion are not sought out to be searched and you have no probation...

Will he be able to get his green card?

How long ago was he convicted? Possession for personal use is now a misdemeanor- as of November 2014. Not sure if that would help the immigration...

If I get my criminal record expunged, will all my rights be restored (voting, gun purchases etc.).

Your gun rights will not be restored by doing an "expungement". Your right to vote should've been restored post incarceration/parole automatically.

How could someone say no charge existed before signing a plea ?

This does happen. The defendant most likely knew they were under investigation by some federal agency, they either hired an attorney or had one...

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Hard to predict- I would expect some combination of the following (but not all): jail time, community service, Cal-Trans, additional fines, etc.,...

Standard would be "yes, you will serve jail time". If you hire a lawyer, your chances of not spending time at the Orange County Jail will...

You would first need to have probation terminated before applying for an "expungement". If you have stayed out of trouble and you have a good...

Was my proposition 47 petition denied?

It is possible you didn't serve it correctly? I've heard of this happening. It is also possible that it was granted and they never notified you. I...